A segmented display addressable in matrix fashion and having positive and negative display modes

摘要

A display having a display area capable of displaying a plurality of characters in a background, the characters including a plurality of segments, comprising : a substrate (15); a first patterned conductor layer (10) on the substrate having electrically separate areas defining character regions, the first patterned conductor being substantially coextensive with the display area; a layer of light modulating material (20) over the first patterned conductor layer; a second patterned conductor layer (30) over the layer of light modulating material and having electrically separate areas defining the segments of the characters and the background, the second patterned conductor being substantially coextensive with the display area; a dielectric layer (120) over the second patterned conductor layer, the dielectric layer defining holes (72) over each segment and the background area of the second patterned conductor layer; and a third patterned conductor layer (112) located over the dielectric layer defining a plurality of conductors connected to the areas defining the character segments in the second patterned conductor and the background area through the holes in the dielectric layer; at least one of the conductors being connected to a segment in more than one character, whereby the display may be addressed in a matrix fashion by electrically addressing the first and second plurality of contacts, and may be driven in a positive or negative mode.